Customs Fees:
Ok so someone has to give me proper advice on this BEFORE Monday avo when I call the customs bastards. I won this handbag on ebay, I would link it, but I am not arsed at this stage and also, too lazy to go look for the link, anyway, all in all including postage and packaging it cost me ?198, and then I get a notice in the letterbox today informing me that I owe the customs 50 fucking euro, sorry for swearing, but I do it, and I do it more when I am angry, WTF seriously, are they allowed to do this, and where did they get this ?50 from, is it just a figure they pulled out of their arses or what, I am mucho confused! And also, instead of holding it for collection in my local post office sorting place, they send it to the headquarters where I cannot get to, should I sue? Or what? I want my feckin bag, but is ?50 extra too much, a tenner I could handle, the value I paid was about ?150 so is the customs rate 33% or what? HELP MEEEEEE!
Thanks!!
4.21-en
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Comments
If it came from outside the EU, you're paying customs duty AND VAT, hence the high percentage. There's nothing you can do about it beyond refusing the goods, in which case you're out ?198.
The guys at customs are never consistent though. If you order the same thing again, it could get through without any charges.
Posted by: J.D. | June 23, 2007 11:09 AM
The headquarters is, I believe, in Sandyford, pretty much across the road from where you work.
And it's not just that the customs guys are inconsistent, it's that they're a pack of wankers.
Posted by: Matt | June 23, 2007 11:43 AM
Em, Matt, I haven't worked there for 4 months now, now I work in Donnybrook remember?
And yes, they are a pack of wankers and I am so angry at them its unreal!! But I am going to call them on Monday and bollock them none the less, I am so pissed off cause they had the item for THREE days before I was even notified - aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!! And I have no way of collecting it either cause its 9-5 Mon-Fri and I am in work all of those times, so I am going to have to get someone else to do it for me, thus incuring an even longer delay, that's it, I am never ordering anything off Ebay again, ever, in fact, I am going to delete my account, I know its not their fault or anything, but still, it will make me feel better, wankers!
Posted by: babs | June 23, 2007 12:54 PM
Oh, yeah, you work for that other company that's exactly the same as your old company. I forgot.
You just had a bit of bad luck. I've ordered loads off eBay and never incurred any customs penalties.
Posted by: Matt | June 23, 2007 1:15 PM
Yeah I work in the place that you used to tell people that I worked in cause you didn't concentrate on what was actually happening! I am annoyed!!! Its so unfair, customs are a pack o wankers, also, how come its ?50 when the thingy was only ?150? I dont get it at all, I am still calling them on Monday to see what is happening, they will pay for this, oh yes indeedy!
Posted by: babs | June 23, 2007 4:29 PM
So the story goes like this.
You legally have to pay customs duty on everything you bring into the country. However customs can't go through every package that goes into the country so you generally get away with it. Every now and then you get caught and have to pay. Legally this is the law and the policy of most countries in the EU.
I've had most stuff go through but every 20 or so items I buy online (not just eBay but from t-shirts to electronics I get bust and go and pay the duty as I am meant to). It's still arse but that's the reality. The same rules apply when you come back from travelling, but again they can't search everyone so generally you get away with it.
A good eBay seller who sells across boarders (especially China, Hong Kong and USA) to UK/IE/EU normally will say that you might get caught for customs and should warn you of the risk. But this has very little to do with eBay themselves and a tiny bit to do with the seller.
Customs offices are government offices, and by reason they are unnecessarily complicated, often unreasonable and defy logic. There probably is a reason they are charging you so much duty, and at that price I would question it, but you are still due to pay some duty.
You probably need to do some googling to see what you owe. Try starting with Customs and Excise Tariff Of Ireland - January 2007 Edition
Posted by: Adrian | June 24, 2007 3:00 PM
"You legally have to pay customs duty on everything you bring into the country."
I thought it was just stuff from outside the EU (common market and all that), but I could be wrong - it's happened before.
Posted by: neil | June 24, 2007 11:36 PM
I am calling them in the morning, so will find out why its so much, get this though, they are only open from 10am - 12.15 and then from 2pm - 4pm, what ARE they doing in the times in between, its so odd...bet they are scratching their arses. In my eyes ?50 on a ?150 purchase is WAY too much, I have a feeling I may rant at them too - ooh er, hate to be the poor civil servant who gets me on the phone tomorrow ...
Posted by: babs | June 25, 2007 1:53 AM
So I called the customs today and was speaking to a delightfully gruff female (I think) person, basically, the ebay person put the value on thw outside, they opened it, and charged me 21% VAT and 3% duty on the item, then she tells me that I am also being charged VAT at 21% on the postage costs, as in, the ones the seller paid to the postal service in the states, so I am being charged 21% on a service which I paid for in another country, and also An Post are charging me ?5 "handling fee" for holding it for me in Sandyford, as if having it there is a favour or something, aaaaaaaagh!! I just want my bag the shower of shites!
Posted by: babs | June 26, 2007 1:17 AM